Aaron Ramsey celebrates putting Wales 1-0 ahead (Getty)

Aaron Ramsey’s brilliant Panenka penalty in Wales’ crucial World Cup qualifier against Serbia was a miss-hit, according to Dean Saunders.

The Arsenal man stepped up during the first half to take a spot kick after the referee judged Sam Vokes’ shirt had been pulled in the box.

Despite the hostile atmosphere and crucial nature of the game, Ramsey was coolness personified as he took the penalty.

He produced a Panenka finish that floated into the inside netting of the goal as the goalkeeper dived the other way.

Ramsey clipped the ball (Getty)
It floated into the net (Getty)

But while most people thought the strike – which happened on the same pitch as the original Panenka was scored in the Euro 1976 final – was a thing of beauty, Saunders wasn’t so sure.

The Wales legend thought Ramsey intended to hit the ball down the middle but miss-hit it.

‘I think this is an out-of-bounds right shank off the tee,’ said the 75-times capped former Liverpool striker.

‘If you’re going to do that technique you’re relying on the goalkeeper diving out of the way and his legs getting out the way. So you dink it down the middle so there’s a bit of hang-time on the ball so the keeper clears the way.

‘I think he stubs his toe a little bit.

‘It’s an unbelievable penalty if he’s meant it because to chip it that slowly that side of the goal you’re relying on the keeper diving the wrong way.’

Miss-hit or not, Ramsey didn’t care (Getty)

Saunders’ fellow Sky Sports pundit Phil Babb agreed.

‘He’s stubbed it. He’s trying to put his foot through the ball for a little chip and he hasn’t completed it. He’s got away with it I think.’

The goal was a vital strike for Wales’ hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It felt all the more satisfying with it coming in the absence of talisman Gareth Bale who was suspended for the match in Belgrade.

‘It’s in. That’s all that matters,’ Saunders concluded of the penalty.

The match ended 1-1 after Aleksandar Mitrovic equalised for Serbia in the 73rd minute.

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